Team Jota Hertz Team, formed by Will Stevens and Callum Ilott, achieved a historic first victory for a non-factory team in the Hypercar era of the World Endurance Championship. They triumphed in the 6 Hours of Spa race on Saturday, resisting strong competition from Penske Porsche and Ferrari teams. It was a race full of drama, including accidents, safety car periods, and a red flag. Porsche dominated the event, securing first and second place in the Hypercar category, as well as first and second place in the LM GT3 class. Ferrari managed to recover from a difficult qualifying session to secure a podium finish in third and fourth place.
The Porsche Penske Motorsport trio, composed of Laurens Vanthoor, Andre Lotterer, and Kevin Estre, finished in second place, taking the lead in the championship standings. Andrea Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicholas Nielsen secured third place in car 50 499P, ahead of their teammates Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi in car 51. Ferrari faced setbacks during the race, losing pole position for being underweight in qualifying and then being involved in a serious accident that led to the race being suspended.
The accident occurred when Earl Bamber tried to overtake the Proton Competition Porsche of Neel Jani and the BMW M4 GT3 of Sean Gelael. Bamber’s maneuver caused a serious accident on the Kemmel straight, resulting in a red flag and race suspension. After the debris was cleared and the barriers repaired, the race resumed with the clock reset to allow for a full six hours of racing. This decision favored Team Jota and the factory Porsches, as they had made their pit stops just before the accident occurred. The leading Ferrari had to make an additional pit stop for refueling under yellow flag conditions during the restart.
Despite pressure from the factory Porsche, Jota Ilott and Porsche 963 Estre only needed one more stop in the pits. The private team managed to hold off the factory car and secure the victory. The Ferraris and Gazoo Toyotas were unable to recover after their additional pit stops. Ferrari 50 finished a distant third, followed by its sister car, Ferrari 51, in fourth. Kamui Kobayashi’s Toyota GR010 Hybrid LMH dropped to fifth place, behind the private Proton 963 driven by Andlauer and Jani. The top eight positions were completed by the Hartley-Buemi-Hirakawa Toyota, the yellow Ferrari, and the Chatin-Gounon-Milesi Alpine. The Peugeot of Jensen-Müller and the BMW of Vanthoor Marciello Wittmann completed the top ten, followed by the second Alpine, BMW, Peugeots, and the Isotta Fraschini.
The race was under safety car for a long period earlier. After Rene Rast’s BMW M Hybrid V8 overtook Phil Hanson’s second Porsche 963, Ahmad Al Harthy also suffered as a result in Valentino Rossi’s BMW M4 GT3. The second Porsche 5 spun out on its own in the middle of the race.
The Porsche WEC trophy overflowed as Manthey Racing secured a 911 LMGT3 1-2. The leading Lamborghini Iron Lynx, driven by Schiavoni, Cressoni, and Perera, had to pit for refueling before the final lap. This allowed Malykhin, Sturm, and Bachler’s Porsche to clinch the victory, followed by teammates Lietz, Schuring, and Shahin. The Lamborghini returned to the race and grabbed third place, ahead of the Iron Dames entry of Bovy, Frey, and Gatting.
Now all attention turns to the big event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race on June 15 and 16. With the crucial Balance of Performance data still to be confirmed, it is unlikely that much will change considering the small differences between the cars. This promises to be one of the most fiercely contested races in the 101-year history of the classic endurance event. See you in Le Mans!
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The thrilling final of the football championship left fans in ecstasy. The home team, known for their skill on the field, faced a formidable opponent who was not intimidated. The match was intense, with incredible plays and a lot of tension. In the end, the home team managed to score the winning goal in the final minutes, thus securing the long-awaited title.
The players were heroes in this battle, showing determination and grit in every move. The team captain led his team masterfully, demonstrating his experience and talent. Fans cheered with every play, singing and encouraging their idols.
The visiting team’s supporters also deserve recognition, as they showed up in large numbers and supported their team from start to finish. Despite the defeat, the players were proud of their performance and thanked the fans for their support.
This thrilling final will go down in football history. The players showed that with dedication and teamwork, great achievements are possible. The title won by the home team is the result of months of intense training and sacrifice.
Now, fans eagerly await the next championship, hoping for more exciting games and unforgettable moments. Football is a national passion and this final once again showed why. May there be more victories and achievements for all the teams in Brazil.
